We love how bridal showers have evolved and how many bridesmaids are now taking the lead and creating memorable showers for the bride to be's, incorporating either themes or colours, but leaving the guests feeling like they got a taste of what the bride loves most.

This theme is a perfect example of mixing vintage with modern and keeping it all girly at the same time. By using different shades of pink and throwing colours like yellow brown and blue in the mix, this bridal shower indicates that the bride loves to have fun. Different patterns also make for an interesting showcase.

Most guests will tell you that they tend to remember a party by the food that was served together with the overall feel of it. Keep it interesting by serving sweet and savoury eats and also have different alcholic and non-alcholic drinks available. Keep the eats simple to avoid having to serve the food with eating utensils. Rather opt for smaller finger foods and keep napkins around for the messy eaters.

I've always loved the idea of being able to try a little bit of everything, I'm a real buffet lover in that sense. So when I came across the idea of a dessert buffet I knew I had to share it with you.

Forget the traditional three tiered cake, or the plated desserts served to the guests, incorporate a decadent dessert table instead. Have your guests choose from your favourite desserts and encourage them to try one of each type by keeping the desserts to bitesize.

A brilliant idea if you wanted to keep it in the family is to ask granny to make those mini milktarts, or get other family members involved in that way by contributing.

Provide small plates or take-away boxes for the guests to fill up with desserts.

Candy and Herman tied the knot in what the bride called an "untraditional" wedding ceremony on Saturday, 29 January 2011 at Riverside Hall in Port Elizabeth with 106 of their closest friends and family looking on.

Entering the chapel on the beautiful song from Jason Mraz’s "I’m Yours", the bride opted not to wear a veil but instead wore a beautiful white flower to symbolise life and happiness as she had lost both her parents. This flower also symbolised her late mothers love for harvesting flowers.

ATTIRE

Candy opted to rent her dress from Claire from Bridal Flair. An A-line layered vintage inspired white strapless gown with small crystals in-between the lace was Candy's dress of choice. Helen Le Roux from Hairquarters did Candy's make-up while Casey, also from Hairquarters finished off the look with a beautiful bridal hairstyle.

Catherine from Catherines Bridal Accessories dyed Candy's satin wedding shoe a beautiful purple colour that tied into her theme of black and purple with white while the rest of her stationery was from Atmosphere.

Herman and his groomsmen wore suits from Heinz In Style.

DETAILS

The couple made use of Stanley Lemmer of Lemmer Estates for their bridal transport. With a beautiful colour scheme of purple, black and white Angelic Wonders provided most of the gorgeous decor to match. Minimal flowers were used however, the main table as well as the bouquets and buttonholes were done by Isobel from Flowers.com. Matthew Strydom from Multi-tasking finished off the look with beautiful printed stationery. Each guest was treated to a handmade nougat bar as a thank you gift from the couple.

DJ Vernon made sure that the guests had fun by providing the reception dance music. The couple opened the dancefloor with a very untraditional choice of Greece Ligthing.

THE CAKE

Instead of a traditional wedding cake, the couple asked East Cape Foods to make them dessert cups. There was a choice of two types of fillings – Fudge Picasso and Double Decker Chocolate. The topper cake was a Fudge Picasso Cake with chocolate coulis and cream. The couple had their own personalised cake topper, the groom running with a Rugby Ball (Because apparently Hermand is such a fanatic) and the bride tackling him around the ankles.

DIY BRIDE

Candy made her own serviette rings from purple ribbon and different shaped beads as well as the favour boxes.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Cherie Theron captured the couple's beautiful wedding while Debbie Louw was responsible for the video.

HONEYMOON

After the wedding the couple enjoyed their honeymoon at the beautiful Sugar Hotel and beauty Spa in Cape Town.

ADVICE

Words of wisdom from Candy: "Make sure you plan well in advance, if you can get a planner to assist you with doing your wedding – do so – it is a lot less stressful, take-in (mentally) as much as you can take in on the day because it goes by very quickly – take the time to look at your hard work (mental photographs)the look on the people’s faces when you enter – enjoy it and relax, this is the one day in your life that it is all about You – enjoy the day while it lasts and don’t let the little things stress you out – the day is about something much more special than, guests not arriving, or flowers not being the perfect color – it is about the union of a unique couple, and enjoy it as such!"

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I found this site very informative – I enjoyed reading up on the latest trends and I have referred my sister to look at this website as she will be tying the knot soon! I searched make-up artists and wedding dresses on this site.

Thanks for sharing your wedding with us!

WEDDING SUPPLIERS

• Baker: East Cape Foods
• Catering: Riverside Hall
• Ceremony/Cocktail Music: DJ Vernon
• Decor: Angelic Wonders
• Dress: Claire from Bridal Flair
• Favours: Coach House Nougat Company
• Florist: Isobel from flowers.com
• Hair: Casey from Hairquarters
• Honeymoon: Sugar Hotel and Spa
• Make-up: Hellen from Hairquarters
• Photographer: Cherie Theron
• Reception Music: DJ Vernon from Outright Audio
• Reception Venue: Riverside Hall
• Shoes: Catherines Bridal Accessories
• Stationery: Matthew Knowles from Multi-tasking
• Suit Hire: Heinz In Style
• Transport: Stanley Lemmer
• Videography: Debbie Louw

Would you like us to feature your wedding? E-mail megan@perfectday.co.za for more information.